Honoring women in the film and TV industries

By Jade Arroyo
As part of the Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF), for the twelfth year awards were presented at an event honoring outstanding women in films and TV, held for the first time in San Miguel de Allende.
This year two women with outstanding careers in the Mexican film industry were recognized: filmmaker María Novaro and TV producer Mafer Suárez.
The awards luncheon was held at Casa Sierra Nevada del Parque on July 20, and among the guests were Mexican actresses, producers and directors and women and men involved in movies and television business.
A welcome speech was offered by Sarah Hoch, director of GIFF, Karla Ramírez, president of the municipal DIF, and Norma Castañares, president of the association Mujeres en el Cine y la Televisión (Women in Film and TV). Afterward, audiovisual portraits of the honorees ones were screened.
Novaro and Suárez received the Musa Award from Norma Castañares and the Cruz de Plata from Sarah Hoch.
Novaro and Suárez shared stories about their careers and the difficulties they faced as young women in the film and TV industries, noting the advances that have been made by women over the years.
Novaro counts among her films Danzón (1991), El jardín del Edén (1994) and Las buenas hierbas (2008), and she is considered the most successful Mexican female director. When handed the award, Novaro said, “I’m very grateful for this distinction, because if anything fills me with pride, it is that I am a woman and have been able to make movies for 30 years. We didn’t have that privilege before.” She added: “My daughters call me a feminist; they find it incredible that we couldn’t express ourselves before. I’m proud to have helped make a better road for us. We have earned our place in the film industry and no one can take it away from us. With that thought I give thanks for this happy moment.”
Suárez has produced many TV shows, among them Mujeres Asesinas, Gritos de muerte y libertad, Lo de menos and El encanto del águila. “Television also needs filmmakers,” she said. “Thank you for this recognition. I want to share it with people who have inspired me along my career. I still have much to do; I hope for so much more for Mexico.”